You paid for the full order. The container arrived short by 20%, 30%, or more. This is breach of contract — and you are entitled to receive the balance, a refund, or compensation for the losses it caused your business.
Partial shipment disputes are frustratingly common in China trade. Sometimes the factory runs short on materials. Sometimes it's deliberate — the supplier ships partial quantities across multiple buyers to collect cash faster. Whatever the cause, the legal outcome is the same: you paid for goods you didn't receive, and you have a legal right to remedy.
Our recovery guide explains your legal options when a Chinese factory fails to deliver the full order.
The key difference from full non-delivery is that you received something — which some buyers interpret as "good enough." It isn't. A 30% shortfall on a $200,000 order is a $60,000 claim. Don't leave it on the table.
Force factory to complete the order as contracted
Recover payment for the undelivered shortfall
Refund + consequential losses from the shortage
Australian sporting goods distributor ordered 4,000 units, received 2,600. Factory claimed "production issues" and promised the balance "soon" for 4 months. We issued a formal demand, factory refused to complete delivery. Filed in Guangzhou court; full shortfall value plus storage and resale losses recovered in 5 months.
We review your order documents, shipment records, and quantify the exact amount owed. We assess whether to pursue goods delivery, refund, or full damages — and recommend the fastest path.
A formal demand from a PRC-licensed attorney demanding either completion of delivery within 15 days or return of payment for the shortfall. Most factories who have retained any commercial sense respond at this stage.
For claims above $30,000, we often file for asset preservation simultaneously — freezing the factory's accounts to prevent them from dissipating funds while negotiations proceed.
If the factory ignores the demand or refuses to settle fairly, we file formal proceedings — through CIETAC or the relevant Chinese people's court — with full evidence and damage calculations in Chinese.
Chinese judgment or award enforced against factory assets. You receive the recovered funds by international wire transfer.
Tell us the full order quantity, what arrived, and what the factory is saying now. We'll assess your claim and outline the fastest recovery path within 24 hours.